Reference:116518: Difference between revisions
| [checked revision] | [checked revision] |
Deep audit: Daytona grounding, image-gap review, and anti-slop prose |
Tighten 116518 dial and strap evidence wording |
||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
==Core facts== | ==Core facts== | ||
{| class="wikitable rp-facts" | {| class="wikitable rp-facts" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 84: | Line 83: | ||
==Where it sits in the line== | ==Where it sits in the line== | ||
The 116518 occupies the leather-strap full-gold slot in the cal 4130 launch lineup. Rolex announced five configurations at Baselworld 2000, split by case material and by bracelet-or-strap: the steel 116520 on Oyster, the Rolesor 116523 on Oyster, the yellow gold 116528 on Oyster, the yellow gold 116518 on leather, and the white gold 116519 on leather. The 116518 is the gold-case watch sold on alligator from the factory, with no standard Oyster bracelet option. | The 116518 occupies the leather-strap full-gold slot in the cal 4130 launch lineup. Rolex announced five configurations at Baselworld 2000, split by case material and by bracelet-or-strap: the steel 116520 on Oyster, the Rolesor 116523 on Oyster, the yellow gold 116528 on Oyster, the yellow gold 116518 on leather, and the white gold 116519 on leather. The 116518 is the gold-case watch sold on alligator from the factory, with no standard Oyster bracelet option. | ||
| Line 90: | Line 88: | ||
==Production outline== | ==Production outline== | ||
The 116518 ran for roughly fifteen years across the same case-serial chronology as the rest of the cal 4130 family. Pre-2010 production used the Rolex letter-prefix system shared across the catalogue; from mid-2010 onward case serials switched to the random eight-character alphanumeric format that has no public year mapping. See [[Reference:Serial-numbers]] for the full key. | The 116518 ran for roughly fifteen years across the same case-serial chronology as the rest of the cal 4130 family. Pre-2010 production used the Rolex letter-prefix system shared across the catalogue; from mid-2010 onward case serials switched to the random eight-character alphanumeric format that has no public year mapping. See [[Reference:Serial-numbers]] for the full key. | ||
| Line 98: | Line 95: | ||
==Movement notes== | ==Movement notes== | ||
Cal 4130 sits inside every 116518, the same movement that powers the 116520, 116523, 116519 and 116528. It runs at 28,800 vph on 44 jewels with a 72-hour reserve and COSC certification, switches through a column wheel, couples the chronograph with a vertical clutch, and carries a blue Parachrom hairspring on later production. Hour and minute counters share a single side of the movement, and the mainspring can be replaced without uncasing. | Cal 4130 sits inside every 116518, the same movement that powers the 116520, 116523, 116519 and 116528. It runs at 28,800 vph on 44 jewels with a 72-hour reserve and COSC certification, switches through a column wheel, couples the chronograph with a vertical clutch, and carries a blue Parachrom hairspring on later production. Hour and minute counters share a single side of the movement, and the mainspring can be replaced without uncasing. | ||
Caliber 4130 is Rolex's first wholly in-house Daytona chronograph movement. Earlier Daytonas used outside bases: the Valjoux 72 family from 1963 and the Zenith El Primero base in caliber 4030 from 1988. Rolex introduced the 4130 in 2000 across the five-configuration Daytona family, including the leather-strap 116518. | |||
The vertical clutch couples the chronograph with less start-up disturbance than a lateral-clutch design. Dial layout and register positions follow the 4130 architecture, while the 16518 uses the Zenith-based 4030. | The vertical clutch couples the chronograph with less start-up disturbance than a lateral-clutch design. Dial layout and register positions follow the 4130 architecture, while the 16518 uses the Zenith-based 4030. | ||
| Line 108: | Line 104: | ||
==Dial map== | ==Dial map== | ||
The 116518 dial catalogue runs broader than the steel 116520's, with the gold case carrying decorative finishes the steel reference never offered. | The 116518 dial catalogue runs broader than the steel 116520's, with the gold case carrying decorative finishes the steel reference never offered. | ||
| Line 119: | Line 114: | ||
| Champagne with gold markers | | Champagne with gold markers | ||
| 2000–2015 | | 2000–2015 | ||
| | | Documented standard layout; gold-tone sub-dial rings; applied gold five-minute markers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Black with red Daytona script | | Black with red Daytona script | ||
| Line 162: | Line 157: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Karyn Orrico's "Vintage Rolex Daytona: The Gold Standard" (Sotheby's, 2024) catalogues white Panda and diamond-set hour-marker examples on the | Karyn Orrico's "Vintage Rolex Daytona: The Gold Standard" (Sotheby's, 2024) catalogues white Panda and diamond-set hour-marker examples on the caliber-4030 16518. Similar dial treatments are documented on 116518 examples, but the cited material does not establish a complete carry-over list or production sequence. Mother-of-pearl dials with Roman numerals appear in forum and auction records. Gem-set layouts require separate checks because the records do not always distinguish factory setting from later work. | ||
==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown== | ==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown== | ||
The 116518 case is 40mm in 18k yellow gold, the same nominal dimension as the steel 116520. Lugs and case flanks carry the cal 4130 family profile, with crown guards integrated into the case and the 700-series Triplock screw-down crown at 3 o'clock. Water resistance is 100m / 330ft, identical to the steel reference. Case thickness on documented examples runs to roughly 12.4mm, marginally thicker than the steel 116520's measured profile, which is put down to the gold-forging tolerances Rolex used through the cal 4130 run. | The 116518 case is 40mm in 18k yellow gold, the same nominal dimension as the steel 116520. Lugs and case flanks carry the cal 4130 family profile, with crown guards integrated into the case and the 700-series Triplock screw-down crown at 3 o'clock. Water resistance is 100m / 330ft, identical to the steel reference. Case thickness on documented examples runs to roughly 12.4mm, marginally thicker than the steel 116520's measured profile, which is put down to the gold-forging tolerances Rolex used through the cal 4130 run. | ||
| Line 173: | Line 167: | ||
==Bracelets, end links, and clasps== | ==Bracelets, end links, and clasps== | ||
The 116518 is a leather-strap reference. Every documented original-equipment example shipped on alligator leather with an 18k yellow gold deployant buckle. The 116518 was sold on leather; the factory Oyster-bracelet configuration is the [[Reference:116528|116528]]. Gold Oyster conversions appear on individual watches and require separate fitment and service-history evidence. | The 116518 is a leather-strap reference. Every documented original-equipment example shipped on alligator leather with an 18k yellow gold deployant buckle. The 116518 was sold on leather; the factory Oyster-bracelet configuration is the [[Reference:116528|116528]]. Gold Oyster conversions appear on individual watches and require separate fitment and service-history evidence. | ||
The preceding 16518 used fixed gold end pieces between case and strap, a precious-metal Daytona detail the steel references never carried. The 116518 inherits the same originality burden. A correct watch head can sit on a replaced strap, end-link or deployant, so each component has to be verified on its own. | The preceding 16518 used fixed gold end pieces between case and strap, a precious-metal Daytona detail the steel references never carried. The 116518 inherits the same originality burden. A correct watch head can sit on a replaced strap, end-link or deployant, so each component has to be verified on its own. | ||
The deployant buckle is 18k yellow gold throughout the run, in the standard Rolex deployant geometry of the period. Strap material was always alligator from Rolex, with black, brown and burgundy as standard colours and other tones available through the catalogue. | The deployant buckle is 18k yellow gold throughout the run, in the standard Rolex deployant geometry of the period. Strap material was always alligator from Rolex, with black, brown and burgundy as standard colours and other tones available through the catalogue. Leather straps are consumable components and are often replaced. A Rolex-stamped strap with the original deployant supports period-correct fitment; a later replacement strap can still sit on an original deployant, while a complete strap-and-deployant set requires component-level verification. | ||
Third-party rubber | Third-party rubber straps appear on some surviving watches and do not by themselves change the watch-head reference. Auction descriptions differ on whether the original deployant is present, so the strap and clasp should be recorded separately. | ||
For the wider Daytona bracelet and clasp reference chronology, see [[Reference:Bracelets]]. The 116518's leather-and-deployant configuration is documented inside David Boettcher's broader Daytona bracelet reference at vintagewatchstraps.com. | For the wider Daytona bracelet and clasp reference chronology, see [[Reference:Bracelets]]. The 116518's leather-and-deployant configuration is documented inside David Boettcher's broader Daytona bracelet reference at vintagewatchstraps.com. | ||
==Special branches== | ==Special branches== | ||
===Tiffany & Co. and other double-signed dials=== | ===Tiffany & Co. and other double-signed dials=== | ||
Published evidence for double-signed 116518 dials is sparse. A six-digit signature should be supported by original-sale documentation or a major-house catalogue. Tiffany, Cartier and Vacheron signatures are better documented on earlier Daytona references; no 116518-specific lot in the cited sources provides a comparable anchor. | Published evidence for double-signed 116518 dials is sparse. A six-digit signature should be supported by original-sale documentation or a major-house catalogue. Tiffany, Cartier and Vacheron signatures are better documented on earlier Daytona references; no 116518-specific lot in the cited sources provides a comparable anchor. | ||
===Beach dial sub-branches=== | ===Beach dial sub-branches=== | ||
The pastel mother-of-pearl "beach dial" family that runs on the cal 4030 16518 — pink MOP, salmon MOP, pale blue MOP — carries forward into early 116518 production according to some dealer and auction catalogue copy, though the cal 4130 layouts read as a narrower set than the Zenith-era variants. Per-dial volume on the 116518 beach-dial branch is not documented in the major-house literature, so individual examples have to be authenticated against period documentation. | The pastel mother-of-pearl "beach dial" family that runs on the cal 4030 16518 — pink MOP, salmon MOP, pale blue MOP — carries forward into early 116518 production according to some dealer and auction catalogue copy, though the cal 4130 layouts read as a narrower set than the Zenith-era variants. Per-dial volume on the 116518 beach-dial branch is not documented in the major-house literature, so individual examples have to be authenticated against period documentation. | ||
===Diamond, pavé, and gem-set layouts=== | ===Diamond, pavé, and gem-set layouts=== | ||
Diamond hour markers are documented on champagne, black and MOP 116518 dials. Pavé and pavé-with-coloured-stone layouts are also reported, but the cited material does not consistently distinguish factory setting from later work. Any pavé example needs case-by-case authentication against a named lot or original-sale record. | Diamond hour markers are documented on champagne, black and MOP 116518 dials. Pavé and pavé-with-coloured-stone layouts are also reported, but the cited material does not consistently distinguish factory setting from later work. Any pavé example needs case-by-case authentication against a named lot or original-sale record. | ||
==Auction record== | ==Auction record== | ||
The cited auction record contains four Antiquorum lots. A mother-of-pearl dial (case P594357, circa 2001) sold for EUR 16,250 against a EUR 14,000–18,000 estimate in July 2019. A black dial with diamond indexes (case 963L4944) brought HK$225,000 against an HK$180,000–280,000 estimate in June 2023. A white “Panda” dial (case M227027, 2011) made EUR 24,700 against a EUR 15,000–25,000 estimate in July 2023. A black dial (case Y942608, 2003, with a 2022 Rolex service warranty) sold for CHF 23,750 against an CHF 18,000–24,000 estimate in May 2024. Each lot is recorded with the factory leather-and-yellow-gold-deployant configuration. | The cited auction record contains four Antiquorum lots. A mother-of-pearl dial (case P594357, circa 2001) sold for EUR 16,250 against a EUR 14,000–18,000 estimate in July 2019. A black dial with diamond indexes (case 963L4944) brought HK$225,000 against an HK$180,000–280,000 estimate in June 2023. A white “Panda” dial (case M227027, 2011) made EUR 24,700 against a EUR 15,000–25,000 estimate in July 2023. A black dial (case Y942608, 2003, with a 2022 Rolex service warranty) sold for CHF 23,750 against an CHF 18,000–24,000 estimate in May 2024. Each lot is recorded with the factory leather-and-yellow-gold-deployant configuration. | ||
The 116518LN arrived in 2017. The four cited 116518 results span 2019–2024 and are not enough to infer a relationship between the two references or a general premium for any dial branch. | The 116518LN arrived in 2017. The four cited 116518 results span 2019–2024 and are not enough to infer a relationship between the two references or a general premium for any dial branch. | ||
== Related references == | ==Related references== | ||
* [[Reference:116520|Daytona 116520]] (Steel, Cal. 4130, 2000–2016) | * [[Reference:116520|Daytona 116520]] (Steel, Cal. 4130, 2000–2016) | ||
* [[Reference:116528|Daytona 116528]] (2000–2016) | * [[Reference:116528|Daytona 116528]] (2000–2016) | ||
| Line 216: | Line 203: | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra | * ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra | ||
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/vintage-rolex-daytona-the-gold-standard Karyn Orrico, "Vintage Rolex Daytona: The Gold Standard", Sotheby's, 2024-12-17] | * [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/vintage-rolex-daytona-the-gold-standard Karyn Orrico, "Vintage Rolex Daytona: The Gold Standard", Sotheby's, 2024-12-17] | ||